Dell announces launch of new state health services practice

As states look to understand and address federal regulatory requirements of healthcare reform, Dell Services today announced the launch of a new practice area to help them implement the technology needed to succeed.

“Dell is ranked #1 for IT Services in the worldwide healthcare market, based on 2009 revenue”

The new practice will provide states proven technology best practices gained through Dell's combined expertise as the No. 1 global healthcare IT services provider, as a leading technology services provider to the insurance and government sectors, and through its experience in helping to support the nation's most successful state insurance exchange in Massachusetts.

The Dell State Health Services practice will be led by Melissa Boudreault, who previously served on the leadership team of Massachusetts' nationally-recognized health insurance exchange program as director of the Massachusetts Commonwealth Care Health Plan. Today, nearly 200,000 residents receive coverage through the Health Connector, helping Massachusetts achieve the lowest level of uninsured individuals at 2.7 percent, far below the national 15 percent average. This health insurance exchange served as a model for the federal healthcare reform law, which requires states to establish new exchanges to allow individuals and small businesses to search for and obtain healthcare insurance coverage that best meets their needs. The exchanges will also provide customer information regarding policy options and will help states manage enrollment, reporting and billing.

As a principal technology solutions provider to the Massachusetts Health Connector, Dell has the experience necessary to help states build and manage an exchange. In addition to installing and operating an advanced IT system that manages billing, enrollment, financial and data management requirements for the Connector's Commonwealth Care program, Dell operates a multi-lingual customer call center that assists enrollees in understanding the program and how to identify what plan best suits their needs.

The State Health Services practice will provide states and other entities technology consulting services regarding various insurance exchange models, as well as how states can best manage the influx of new Medicaid responsibilities and mandates. Because no two states are alike, the team of experienced consultants will work with each state to understand their unique position and tailor solutions that best meet their individual needs.

Dell State Health Services offerings will span from readiness assessment and consulting services to providing proven and cost-effective technology and business solutions that are specifically tailored to meet the new healthcare requirements placed on states. Boudreault will also lead the State Health Services operations team, which will help states address increased demand as more constituents are enrolled in Medicaid and as states establish other healthcare programs such as Health Insurance Exchanges, Health Information Exchanges, Co-Operative insurance organizations and consumer-related portals.

Through the State Health Services practice, Dell will provide services including:

• Medicaid expansion preparation;
• IT infrastructure modernization, process improvement and business process solutions;
• Technology optimization, billing and enrollment solutions, and call center operations;
• Integrated health management solutions, consumer-oriented communication platforms; and,
• Traditional IT-related sourcing.

Quotes:

Melissa Boudreault, Director, Dell State Health Services:

"States are facing a variety of complex decisions as they seek to meet the requirements of healthcare reform legislation, while also addressing the specific needs of their constituents in an affordable and effective manner. Dell is already providing consulting services to several states, and we look forward to putting our expertise in providing solutions to the nation's only state insurance exchange, as well as our experience supporting the healthcare and government industries, to work for other states."

SOURCE Dell Inc.